Royal baby: A big day for bookies

A bookie showing odds on different names for the royal baby outside St. Mary's Hospital Lindo Wing.Photo / AP

Bookies are having a banner day as thousands of Britons place bets on the name of the child that will be born to Prince William and his wife, Kate.

Ladbrokes took 50,000 bets in the hours after the Duchess of Cambridge went into labor Monday. Company spokesman Alex Donohue says the public has rushed to put small amounts of money on the soon-to- be-born royal infant's name because they "want to be involved."

"Never underestimate the British public's obsession with the royal family," he said.

So far, the money is on Alexandra for a girl and James for a boy.

The public may have to wait, though. It is not uncommon for the palace to take its time to choose just the right name.